Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)
MANILA – Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Thursday filed a resolution seeking inquiry into alleged “pyramiding scheme” involving doctors and pharmaceutical companies.
Ejercito filed Senator Resolution No. 1011 after receiving reports about pharmaceutical firms allegedly recruiting doctors to prescribe their products in exchange of luxurious rewards depending on the volume of prescriptions they have made.
He said the alleged prescription collusion may have been contravening the intent of the Republic Act (RA) 11223 or the Universal Healthcare Act.
"We will look into it kung talagang may violation sa ethical standards of medical practices at yun nga, yung conflict [of interest] kasi nga po kung ikaw pasyente, kung ano ang prescribed ng doctor, syempre susunod ka eh (if there is a violation of the ethical standards of medical practices and the conflict of interest because if you are the patient, you just follow what your doctor prescribed),” Ejercito said.
He said whistleblowers approached him a few months ago and alleged that a pharmaceutical firm, which is composed of doctors as shareholders, has been importing quality drugs for hypertensions, diabetes, among others.
"Ang complaint ng (According to the complaint of) whistleblowers, it's the doctors who are marketing, prescribing the drugs of medicines. Eh sila din po ang nagpapasok, nagi-import (They are the ones who import). They own the company. So, this has to be investigated," Ejercito said.
Under RA 11223, all manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, biological and medical supplies registered by the Food and Drug Administration shall collect and track all financial relationships with healthcare providers and report it to the Department of Health. (PNA)
